Railway draft appliance



H. H. WOLFE RAILWAY DRAFT AEPLIANCE March 13, 1951 s Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1944 WW v y H. H. WOLFE RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE March 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1944 March 13, 1951 WOLF 2,545,330

RAILWAY DRAFT. APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 2, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Mar. 13, 1951 .5,

UNITED STATE RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE;

Harry. H. Wolfe. Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus,

Ohio

Application November 2, 1944, Serial 14 Claims. (01. 213 71) I This invention relates to railway draftappliances and more particularly to car couplersof *the interlocking type. f 1 It is the desideratum of the industry at the present time to provide a type of coupler for freight cars whichwill interlock so as'to prevent the couplers slipping vertically, and alignthemselves better when coupling on curves orcrossovers. The interlocking type of freight car ecuplers is expected to be'similar to the A.'A."R.

tight lock coupler, except the contour will be looser and a limited amount of horizontal angling will be allowed so that the coupler head :and parts will have to be machined. 1 I

The interlocking type of coupler with no movement vertically between coupler heads and very limited horizontal angling in the contour, requires certain basic conditions in the car construction. These conditions are: a

1. Provision in-the striker and draft parts for vertical angling of the coupler with respect to the centerline of the car. The allowable variation in car center lines is 3" from new light car to a loaded car-with worn parts. The draft parts must; therefore, provide 'for 3" vertical angling upordown.- p y 7 2.Provision' for increased hori ontal angling ofthecoupler and'yoke due to the limited pos-- sible angling in the contour of' the interlocking couplers.

The primary purpose of the present invention is tosupnlv railway draft appliances meeting such conditions. i

With the foregoing ob ieot outlined andwith other objects in view which will app ar as the description proceeds, the invention-consists in the novel features hereinafter described indetail,

illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, of an interlocking typeof freightcar coupler shown in connection with avertical yoke to which the coupler is attached by a horizontal of the ame 2. i Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the yoke partly in "vertical s'ection. r Fig. '7' is a bottom plan view of the yoke partially in horizontal section. 1 ii Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in horizontal section of a swivel block forming part of my inven- -tion.- a f g Fig. 9 is an end view and Fig. 10 a side elevation; respectively, of such swivel block.

Referring to the drawings, I and! are a pair of A. A. -R. Standard :fZ. sills'which are spaced the "usual 12%" to within about 4" forward of the rear draft lugs 2 so as to provide straight guide surfaces 3 about 4" long for the sides ,of thedraft gear-t. The sills are thenspread to approximately /2" to allow for'the application of a striker 5"having-gan opening 6 of suflicientwidth to provide the proper clearance for horizontal anglingof the interlockin coupler 'l.

The coupler shank 8 has a parti-spherical convex surface 9 at itsbutt end which contacts a parti-spherical .concave surface: In of a follower II. This contact between the coupler butt and follower provides for both horizontal and vertical angling of'the coupler in bufi.

The coupler shank 8 at the rear end of its keyslot I2 has a convex: vertical parti-cylindrical surface-1'3. on whichbears aiswivel block l4 having a vertical-concave parti-cylindrical surface l5 which' provides for most of the horizontal angling of the couplerin pull; A limited amount of. horizontal angling in pull is also provided by a vertical yoke I76, as it pivots at the gear contact surface I! pntilthe yoke head 18 contacts side ribs l9 -on striker 5. The swivel block l4 also has a horizontal concave parti-cylindrical sur face, 20 which bearson the rounded edge-2| of horizontal key 22 which; provides for the vertical angling of the coupler in pull. Y Key 22 bears-on the yoke head'at 23. v a 'T i s The striker 5 provides clearance above the coupler'shank 8 at 24 for the coupler to angle upwardly. A coupler carrier 25 is supported on springs 26 which are precompressed by bolts 21 so. as to provide the proper coupler height. Springs Zii'are supported on'a" casting 28 which in turn is bolted to the bottom of striker (construction not shown). Spaced walls 29 which are integral with the striker act as guides for the coupler carrier 25. 1 r 7 Due to the wide slot l2 required in the coupler shank for vertical angling, the yoke l6 has a constricted portion in the head, the top 30 of which contacts the top of the shank and prevents coupler draw. The bottom 3| of the constricted portion provides clearance for applicatiion of the coupler shank and also limits the torsional movement of the coupler. The yoke I6 is limited against torsional movement by the key 22 which extends through slots 32 in the yoke and slots 33 in the striker and sills, and also by pads 34 on top of yoke l6. Pads 34 on top of the yoke also limit its-vertical movement int casean'e'xcessive force is' applied to the'c'ouplenhead; The lower strap 35 of the yoke is provided with a wear pad 36 so as to maintain adequate strength in the straps even with worn conditions, and it-also, permits the yoke carrier plate 31 to be made straight instead of crimped up to meet the yoke;

Swivel block M has shoulders 3'8 which confine it between surfaces 39 on the draft yoke. Extensions 40 at the ends of the swivelblockextend through yoke slots 32. It will be noted that the swivel block is carried in the yoke slots an'diis confined laterally by shoulders 38 and longitudinallyrby key 22: and; surfiacelliasimslot: l2 ofm'the coupler shank, thus eliminatingaaddttional retaining :means. The lengthvofsslot :12 int-the coupler shank is limited vto ithatrequired r'for coupler-angling; Thea-extensionsid flmfethe swivel The-usual 'typeof bo'lster'center filler with in- 1,

tegral'rear dra ft lugs is usedinthisconstruction.

In order-zto reinforce the center-sills ll-where they 1 are spread, 2a 3 cover'w'plate 4-51 is'sweldedror riveted to thetop fiangesioi thesills.

'I-o assemble the partsi the yokel 16; followeri l I ankl'draft gea'r l areraised into the sills: l'1 as a unit,- and 'yokecearrierrplateatlsistheir attached to the bottom fianges of the sills. :Eswivel block I4 is angled intc the sl'ot 12 (of -the r-coupler and: Ttlfe coupler inserted intd th yoke-head l8. iDra'ft key '22 and its retainer asare thenaappliedgv as will be obvious-to those skilled-iii thart.

"Wl'i'ile I -have disclesed'rwhao 11'. now: consider-to be a -preferred embcdiment:oifzthea invention an suchu'nanner that the same =ina'y 'be" readily understood by those familiar with draf t arrangements, I am aware that changes may: be madei in 'the details disclosedwithout departing from; the spirit of the invention; asex resseain the claimsr What I' claim and desire to secure? by? Letters Patentds: V

13A railway"draft appliance comprising" draft sills providedwithhorizontal slotsgsidewalls for said sil'ls diverging rmm-eaenetherm proceeding towards one end of the sills astriker secured-to the s'illsf andprovidedvdthdiverging side'surfaces contacting the sidewalls 6f the 'sills;said:stri ke r having horizontal slotsregiste'ring Withtheslots of 'the sills, a verticalidraft. yokepositioned between said sills and provided with a head havin horizont'aL'slots, acoumnshaak eiitendingfinto said head and provided with..a horizontal slot, ea horizontal key extending-through all of said slots, said key being of less heightithanzsaidtslot in (the coupler shank a. swivel block extending through the-slot of the couplershank and into the slots of 'thejyoke head, said swivel block and key having complementary curved -i surfaces, and g parti=1cy lindrical surfaces on the-swivelblockzand coupler 4 shank arranged at the inner end of the slot of the latter and contacting one another.

2. A railway draft appliance comprising draft sills provided with horizontal slots, side walls for said sill diverging from each other in proceeding toward one end of the sills, a striker provided with diverging side surfaces engaging the side Walls or said FS'll'ls andrsecu red to-Fth'ei sills, said striker "having horizonta kslots registering with the slots of the sills, a vertical draft yoke positi oned between said sills and provided with a head having, horizontal slots, a coupler shank extending into said head and provided with a horizontal l:S10 l; ,;"'fa,7 horizoht'alskey extending through all of said slots; saidkey being of less height than said slot in the coupler s'hank a swivel block extending l through-theslot ofrthe coupler shank and into the .rtherbuttof thecqupler fleeing provided with-pantrspherical contacting surfaces.

3;;A- railway draft; appliance: com-prisingra. car supported, yoke having a: heady-a: coupler having a: swivel connection with the head; said head :hav- :ing :2 a constricted zpontion aengageable "ZWith .the shankoof: the-coupler to: limitucoupler 'droopizemd controli torsional" movement-of the -couplerrstationary abutment ,nneans :CabOVB the ."yoke -pad meansat theetop' of the yoke;. engageable with .the ab.utment -=means t-to :controL excessive 1601113161 .dZOOp :andvundue strains: on the-- swivel connec' tion in caseofextremevdownward: load atthe coupler head.

1 +4. .Sl5n a railway-draftappliance acuuplershank having: an elongatedhorizontally fIdiSDOSfid key slot transversely therethrough witm substantially parallel upper andlower edges-1a, yokev headhavring slots therein insubstantially ihorizontalsalignmentwwiths said keyslot,z-.a;. draftrkeye extending through the key slot and the slots inwthevyoke headsaid idraftskey h-avingea flat rll-pl elesurface andan under surface substantiallyrparalleltolthe upper surface, the verticalidimension ref saidv key being less than the vertical space between..-the upper, and-lower ,edges-ofithe key slot, ,a rounded rear edge onvsaid ,draiftkWaaswivel blockwithin the key slot having a length as greatas .the transverse width. of the coupler. shank, a concave for- ,ward'jacing.surfacebnthe. swivel block: enga n the rounded rear, edge on.the key,.a forward ,fac ing; surfaceconvex in horizontalsection. forming the ,end of sthelkey .slot rand aextending throughout .;the,itransversel width. of the coupler shank, a rear facing surface on the swivel block concave in horizontal section and.of a length. to engage throughout the ,entire convex surface, at the rearend of the key slot, andm'eanson the yoke -head' adjacent theslots' therein f 'or"inaintaining the swivel block within the key slot.

-56 rn a railway draft appliance, =-a coupler shank having an elongated horizontally disposed key slot transversely 'there'thr'ough with substantially parallel upper andl'0wer edges, iaiyoke head having: slots; therein in 1 substantially ;lio'rizontal alignment with saidskey slot, iaxkeyzextendingvzthrough thevkey slot andrthe {slots in the yoke head, said keynb'eing elongated in cross section-with la flat :upper-surfaceeandsan under surface substantially parallel to said upper sur- 5 face, the vertical dimension less than the vertical space between the upper and lower edges of the key slot, an arcuaterear edge on said key, a swivel block within the key slot having a length as great as the transverse width of the coupler shank, a concave surface on a forwardportion of the swivel block for engaging the arcuate-edge on the key, a surface convex in horizontal section forming the rear end of the key slot and extending throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank, a rear surface on the swivel. block concave in horizontal section throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank adapted to engage said convex surface, wall portions on the yoke head adjacent the slots therein maintaining the swivel block within the key slot, and means on the-yokehead limiting drooping of the coupler shank.

6. In a railway draft appliance, a; coupler shank having an elongated horizontally disposed key "slo't transversely therethrough "with substantially parallel upper and lower edgesja yoke head having slots therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said key slot, a key extending through the key slot and the slots in the" yoke head; said" key beingelongated in f cross section with a fiat uppersurface and arrrinder surface substantiallyparallel to said up er surface, the? vertical" dimens'ion of said key being lles's than' the vertical-space between the-upper and ldwerf edgesof the keyslot; an arcuate'rear edge off said'key, aswivel block withinthe key 'slothayinga length-"as great asthe transverse widthof the coupler shank,- a concave surface one forward portion of the swivel block for engagingthe arcuate edge onthe' key, a surface convxinhorizdnta-l"section forming the rearend of the key slot and extending throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank, a rear surface on th swivel block concave in horizontal section throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank adapted to engage said convex surface, wall portions on the yoke head adjacent the slots therein maintaining the swivel block within the key slot, and constructions on the yoke head limiting drooping and torsional movement of the coupler shank.

7. In a railway draft appliance, a coupler shank having an elongated horizontally disposed key slot transversely therethrough with substantially parallel upper and lower edges, a yoke head having slots therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said key slot, a draft key extending through the key slot and the slots in the yoke head, said draft key having a flat upper surface and an under surface substantiallyparallel to the upper surface, the vertical height of said draft key being less than the vertical space between the upper and lower edges of the key slot, a rounded rear edge on said draft key, a swivel block within the key slot having a length as'great as the transverse width of the coupler shank, an extension at each end of the swivel block projecting into the slots in the yoke head supporting the swivel block in horizontal alignment with the draft key, shoulders at the ends of the swivel block, a concave surface on the forward portion of the swivel block and the extensions engaging the rounded rear edge on the draft key, a forward facing surface convex in horizontal section forming the rear end of the key slot and extending throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank, a rear facing surface on the swivel block concave in horizontal section throughout the length of the swivelblock enga of said key being 1 ing saidc onvex surface, wall portions on the yoke head adjacent the slots therein for engagement by said shoulder maintaining the swivel block within the key slot, and means on the yoke head limiting drooping of the coupler shank.

8. In a railway draft appliance, a coupler shank having an elongated horizontally disposed key slot;transversely therethrough with substantially parallel upperand'lower edges, a yoke head having slots therein in substantiallyhorizontal alignment with said key slot, a key extending through the key slot and the slots in the yoke head, said key having a; flat upper surface and an under surfjacejsubstantially parallel to said upper sur-, face, jthewertic'al dimensions of said key being less'than the vertical space between the upper and lowerhedge's'ofthe key slot, a rounded rear edge on' said key, a swivel block within the key slot, an extension at each end of the swivel block projecting into. the slotsin the yoke head supi I g the swivel blocki in operative associas vel' ,bl'ockfa "onfcave surface on the forward portion 'of theisiwivel block and the extensions engaging the rounded rear edge" on the key',ia' for ward facing surface'c'onvex iri horizontalsection fem n ne-"rear end of. the key slot, a rear'facing surfaceon the swivel block concave in hori' zorital sectioii'erfgaging saidborivex surface, wall portiohs ontfie 'ydk efhead adjacllt'ithef Slot therein?r i fengagementby said"shoulder main-f talfilingthe swivel block" Within the key "Slot, a; constricted portion on the yoke head limiting drooping T ff the coupler' shank", andanother con sisted'pdrtibnion the yoke head limitingtorsional mov men offthe coupler L 9. :In a anyway: "draft appliance, a coupler shank havi'figa'horizontally'disposed slot extend ing transversely therethrough, a yoke head having slots therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said key slot, 9, draft key extending through the key slot and the slots in the yoke head, an arcuate rear edge on said draft key, a swivel block within the key slot, a concave surface on the swivel block engaging the arcuate rear edge on the draft key, a forward facing surface convex in horizontal section forming the rear end of the key slot and extending throughout the transverse width of the coupler shank, a rearward facing surface on the swivel block concave in horizontal section engaging the convex surface at the rear end of the key slot, a parti-spherical butt end on the coupler shank non-concentric with respect to said convex surface, a resilient draft gear, a follower between the draft gear and the butt end of the coupler shank whereby the draft gear is compressed upon swiveling of the coupler shank so that the energy stored in the draft gear urges the coupler shank toward alignment with a longitudinal center of a the draft appliance.

10. In a railway draft appliance, a coupler shank having a horizontally disposed slot extending transversely therethrough, a yoke head having slots therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said key slot, a draft key extending through the key slot and the slots in the yoke head, a rounded rear edge on said key, a swivel block within the key slot, an arcurate surface on the swivel block engaging said rounded edge, a forward facing surface convex in horizontal section forming the rear end of the key slot, a rearward facing surface on the swivel block concave in horizontal section engaging the convex surface at the end of the key slot, a parti-spherical t e keyfs'houlders' atfthe ends "of the butt end on the coupler shank struck from an axis displaced from the axis of" curvature of said convex surfacing, a resilient draft gear, a follower between the draft gear and the butt end of the coupler shank, said follower having an arc'uate recess receiving said butt end whereby the draft gear is compressed upon swiveling of the coupler shank and the energy stored in the draft gear urges the coupler shank toward alignment with a longitudinal center of the draft appliance.

11. A coupler for a railway vehicle comprising,

a knuckle type coupler head, a shank extending rearwardly from the coupler head, said shank having a horizontally disposed slot extending transversely therethrough, a parti-s'pherical surface forming a convex butt end on the shank, and a forward facing surface convex in horizontal sectionforming the rear end of said slot and struck from an axis displaced from the axis. of curvature of said parti-spherical surface.

12. A coupler for a railway vehicle comprising, a knuckle type coupler head, a shank extending rearwardly from the coupler head, said shank having an elongated horizontally disposed slot extending transversely therethrough having a straight upper edge and a bottom edge substantially parallel to the upper edge, a surface convex in horizontal section forming the forward facing rear end of said slot, and said convex surface extending throughout the entire width of the shank and having an axis of curvature displaced from the axis of curvature of the partiesplie'rica'l surface.

13. A swivel member for a railway draft applianc'e comprising, an elongated block a surface forming a concave rear face for the block, shoulders defining ends of said concave surface and the ends of the block, an extension projecting beyond each end of the block and from each shoulder, a flat top surface on the block and a bottom surface substantially. parallel to the top surface, and a concave surface struck from an axis substantially at right angles to the concave rear surface formed in a front edge of the block and in front edges of said extensions. 14. In a railway draft appliance, center sills having rear parallel side walls, said side walls diverging from each other in proceeding towards the forward end of the appliance, a striker having diverging side surfaces contacting said side walls at the forward end portions of the sills, extensions carried by the striker having tapered external surfaces engaging said diverging side walls, a follower, and parallel inner surfaces on said extensions guiding the follower.

' HARRY H. WOLFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,131,049 Copony Mar. 9, 1915 1,133,538 Coffin Mar. 30, 1915 1,137,348 Nash Apr. 27, 1915 1,174,094 Simonson Mar. 7, 1916 1,176,979 Patch Mar. 28, 1916 1,547,639 Campbell July 28, 1925 1,637,099 Barrows -1 July 26, 1927 1,681,784 Pilcher Aug. 21, 1928 1,684,209 Whitridge et a1. Sept. 11, 1928 1,961,354 Hazeltine June 5 1937 2,143,216 Tesseyman et a1. Jan. 10, 1939 2,235,194 Bazeley l Mar. 18, 1941 

